Method and apparatus for buffer state report

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for buffer state report. A method performed at a terminal device may comprise: determining a time duration, wherein a buffer size associated with data to be transmitted during the time duration is to be predicted by the terminal device; predicting the buffer size; and transmitting a scheduling request or a buffer state report indicating the predicted buffer size to a network node. A method performed at a network node may comprise: receiving a scheduling request or a buffer state report indicating a predicted buffer size associated with data to be received during a time duration from a terminal device; and transmitting a grant for the data according to the received scheduling request or buffer state report. The latency of data transmission from the terminal device to the network node may be reduced.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed at a terminal device, comprising:
 determining a time duration, wherein a buffer size associated with data to be transmitted during the time duration is to be predicted by the terminal device;   predicting the buffer size;   predicting a probability associated with the predicted buffer size; and   transmitting a scheduling request or a buffer state report indicating the predicted buffer size to a network node, wherein the buffer state report includes the probability, and the terminal device transmits the buffer state report when the probability is equal to or greater than a threshold, wherein the threshold is configurable or fixed.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a grant, from a network node, for the data to be transmitted; and   transmitting the data.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predicting is based on at least one of:
 a size;   a type;   a content;   a required transmission rate of the data;   input data from an application behavior;   a user behavior;   a user mobility behavior;   a radio condition;   a traffic behavior; and   a traffic pattern.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a buffer state report prediction configuration for the terminal device, or for a plurality of terminal devices.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining a time duration comprises:
 predicting a second time point for receiving the grant, and/or a third time point for transmitting the data via granted resource;   determining the time duration as a first time period between a first time point and the second time point, or as a second time period between the first time point and the third time point, or as a third time period between the second time point and the third time point, wherein the first time point is for transmitting the buffer state report or for transmitting the scheduling request,   wherein predicting the buffer size comprises:
 predicting a data amount accumulated during the first time period, or during the second time period, or during the third time period. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the second time point is predicted based on a pre-scheduled grant configuration of a network node, and wherein the pre-scheduled grant configuration comprises a periodic grant configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the second time point is predicted as in a slot configured for downlink control signaling reception by a control-resource set (CORESET) configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the second time point is predicted as in a slot pre-scheduled for the grant. 
     
     
         9 . The method  according to 5 , wherein predicting a second time point comprises:
 predicting a first candidate for the second time point based on a pre-scheduled grant configuration of the network node;   determining whether the first candidate conflicts with a time division duplexing (TDD) pattern and/or a control-resource set (CORESET) configuration; and   determining a second candidate as a backup for the second time point if the first candidate conflicts with the TDD pattern and/or the CORESET configuration,   wherein the second candidate is a slot after the first candidate and configured for downlink transmission by the TDD pattern and/or the CORESET configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the second candidate is further a slot for pre-scheduled grant. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein a time period is configured between the second candidate and the first candidate. 
     
     
         12 . A terminal device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the terminal device is operative to:
 determine a time duration, wherein a buffer size associated with data to be transmitted during the time duration is to be predicted by the terminal device; 
 predict the buffer size; 
 predict a probability associated with the predicted buffer size; and 
 transmit a scheduling request or a buffer state report indicating the predicted buffer size to a network node, wherein the buffer state report includes the probability, and the terminal device transmits the buffer state report when the probability is equal to or greater than a threshold, wherein the threshold is configurable or fixed. 
   
     
     
         13 . The terminal device according to  claim 12 , wherein the terminal device is operative to further perform:
 receiving a grant, from a network node, for the data to be transmitted; and   transmitting the data.